Councilman Mark Cuthbertson

On Wednesday, September 6, Councilman Mark Cuthbertson attended Governor Andrew Cuomo's press conference where he announced a new project that will help protect Long Island's water quality. The project is part of a $10.4 Million dollar investment and will include a five-point restoration plan for ALL of Long Island in partnership Cornell Cooperative Extension and SUNY Stony Brook. 

"We were elated to hear Gov. Cuomo's announcement about this environmentally sensitive project - the first of its kind in the United States," stated Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. 

This has been a work in progress. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Town of Huntington partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension and FEMA to repair the FLUPSY (Floating Upweller System) in Huntington Harbor that had suffered severe damage during the storm.

"Gov. Cuomo’s announcement further illustrates the commitment our state and local governments have in developing the proper infrastructure to improve our water quality," added Cuthbertson. 

Veterans Day Wreath Ceremony to Honor WWII Vets - Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 9:00 am

I am happy to host the Town of Huntington’s
2016 Bocce Tournament, taking place
this Saturday, July 30 starting at
9:00 am at Mill Dam Park in Huntington
(West Shore and Mill Dam Roads).

The Bocce Tournament is free and
teams consisting of 4 players can register
through July 28, 2016.

To register, please call 351-2877

Greenlawn – I joined Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, Councilwomen Susan A. Berland and Tracey A. Edwards and the Town’s African American Historic Designation Council June 18th in dedicating two historic markers highlighting the contributions of Samuel Ballton, the 19th-century escaped slave who rose to become Greenlawn’s Pickle King.

The markers, in the municipal parking lot between Broadway and Gaines Avenue and at the intersection of Taylor and Boulevard Avenues, note several houses Ballton built near each location.

Samuel Ballton was born into slavery in Virginia. He escaped the South during the Civil War and eventually settled in Greenlawn in 1873, where he started as a tenant farmer for one of the Town’s wealthiest landowners. Later, while employed as a shareholder for the owner of the largest farm in Greenlawn, he gained much attention by growing record numbers of cucumbers and cabbages. He earned the nickname of the “Pickle King” as a result of growing and processing 1.5 million pickles in one season.

Moving beyond tenant farming, Mr. Ballton was able to gain capital while serving as buying agent for a large Boston pickle house. He began to buy land and houses near the new railroad line, which got him on the path toward being a successful landowner, entrepreneur and founding member of the Greenlawn community. He died on April 30, 1917 at the age of 79.

Following the ceremony, Town Historian Robert Hughes led a walking tour past some of Mr. Ballton’s houses, starting at the Smith Street marker and ending at the Taylor/Boulevard Avenues one. A reception was held following the tour at the Harborfields Public Library.

I helped to welcome Del Frisco’s Grille to their new home located at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station on June 15th [former home of Legal Seafood] – at #160 Walt Whitman Road. It's important to note that their Grand Opening is scheduled for Friday, June 24th and they are currently taking reservations.

I'm pictured with fellow Board Member, Councilwoman Susan Berland, along with Andrew Adamson, Del Frisco’s General Manager, Seth Barton, Del Frisco’s Executive Chef, Allie Tunick, Del Frisco’s Host, Nick D’Ambrosio, Del Frisco’s Regional Manager and Keith Brown, of the Harris Beach Law Firm at the June 15th Ribbon Cutting at the Del Frisco Grille located at Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station.

Northport -- The sixth annual Hunting-Tony Awards, held at the John W. Engeman Theater, packed the house with students, parents and faculty members who were involved in their high schools’ extra-curricular theatrical productions over the 2015/2016 school year. The Hunting-Tony’s had twenty-five categories that recognized acting, singing, dance performances, stage crew, scenery, orchestra pits, costumes and technical productions.

Sponsored by Town of Huntington Councilmembers Mark Cuthbertson and Susan A. Berland, and the John W. Engeman Theater of Northport, the Hunting-Tony Awards ceremony featured a pre-show in which student nominees, many of whom wore tuxedos and evening gowns, walked the red carpet. The show began with opening remarks from Councilman Cuthbertson and Councilwoman Berland and featured musical numbers from Cold Spring Harbor High School’s “Jekyll & Hyde” Huntington High School’s “The Little Mermaid” and Harborfields High School’s “Anything Goes.”  To view clips of some of the performances at the event, go to the Town's Facebook page.

It was a great turnout at the Greater Huntington Boating Council’s Waterfront Festival held May 22nd at Mill Dam Park in Halesite.

I would like to commend Jackie Martin, commodore of the Greater Huntington Council of Yacht and Boating Clubs and fellow members and volunteers on the continued success of Huntington Safe Boating Week.

Memorial Day Weekend is considered the kickoff to the new boating season and this event helps to encourage safe boating practices. From free vessel checks, to free NY State Boating Safety Classes, this event provides invaluable information on how to keep everyone safe while out on the water.

Saturday May 14 is Mosquito Action Day in New York State, and Suffolk County has prepared this flyer to let residents know what we all can do to protect ourselves from illness-spreading mosquitoes:

The Town of Huntington's Annual Tulip Festival will take place this Sunday, May 1, 2016 from 11AM – 4PM in Heckscher Park in Huntington. 

The Tulip Festival, now in its sixteenth year is organized by the Town of Huntington, with Chief Festival Sponsorship support from Astoria Bank.  The free festival will have children’s activity booths and live performances on the Chapin Rainbow stage, presented courtesy of the Huntington Arts Council. 

12:00-12:45 - Chapin Rainbow Stage Performance:  “Jazzy Fairy Tales” with Louise Rogers – “Jazzy Fairy Tales” combines jazz music, storytelling and improvisational theater techniques to teach young children music, literature and social skills.  This interactive performance utilizes young children's natural ability to learn through “play.”  Swing, boogie and dance as the playfulness of jazz gives original versions of well-known fairy tales new life!  Chesky recording artist and music teacher Louise Rogers has a voice that has been described as “pure and incandescent, free of affectation or obvious influence.” (Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times).  A published author – Jazzy Fairy Tales Teacher's Manual, written with Susan Milligan (Alfred Publishing, 2011) with 2 more books slated for publication in 2015 – Louise is a leader in the field of jazz education.  Nat Hentoff has praised her work as "the most joyously encouraging way of expanding the audience for jazz".  Presented by the Huntington Arts Council. * Sponsored by Cablevision

1:00-1:45 - Chapin Rainbow Stage Performance:  “Casplash” – Caribbean splash band with Steelpanist Rudi Crichlow – “Casplash” – a/k/a “Caribbean Splash” – plays music made for dancing – from Calypso, Soca, and Reggae to Pop, Funk, R&B and more.  Casplash takes audience members on a fantastic musical escapade via the beautiful sounds of the steel pan, soulful singing and hot tropical rhythms.  The band leads audiences in familiar dances such as the Electric Slide, Hokey Pokey, Conga Line and Limbo; they also teach a traditional West Indian follow-the-leader style dance called Brown Girl in the Ring.  Casplash is founded and led by Steelpanist Rudy Crichlow, a man whose roots are in Trinidad and Tobago.  The band has performed at festivals, performing arts centers and special events throughout the New York Metro area and the United States.  Presented by the Huntington Arts Council.* Sponsored by Astoria Bank*

2:00-3:00 - Chapin Rainbow Stage Performance:“Songs & Puppetry” with Janice Buckner – Janice is one of the nation's top performing artists for children.  She tours nationally, appearing on over 150 stages each year receiving top ratings.  She has appeared on radio and television, as well as over 4000 schools and concert halls.  She entertains audiences of all ages with her voice, guitars, puppets and her knowledge of Sign Language for the Deaf.  She is noted for her voice, her creativity and the outstanding quality of her lyrics.  Her Learn Along Song Series includes eleven CDs & songbooks and her Creativity in the Classroom Work/Play Book with a 20-song CD is used by pre-K and elementary school teachers throughout the country.  Her Learn Along radio show aired out of Hofstra University for seventeen years and was heard around the world via the internet.  Presented by the Huntington Arts Council.* Sponsored by Huntington Honda

4:00 - Festival Closes (Museum exhibits on view until 5:00 p.m.) 

For more information regarding the Tulip Festival, please feel free to contact (631) 351-3099.